Риф, або Там, де розбивається щастя

XXXI

           Foramomenttheylookedateachotherinsilence,asifthethoughtsbetweenthemwerepackedtoothickforspeech;thenAnnasaid,inavoicefromwhichshestrovetotaketheedgeofhardness:“YouknowwhereOwenis,MissPaintertellsme.”

           “Yes;thatwasmyreasonforaskingyoutoseeme.”Sophyspokesimply,withoutconstraintorhesitation.

           “Ithoughthe’dpromisedyou—”Annainterposed.

           “Hedid;buthebrokehispromise.That’swhatIthoughtIoughttotellyou.”

           “Thankyou.”Annawentontentatively:“HeleftGivrethismorningwithoutaword.IfollowedhimbecauseIwasafraid...”

           Shebrokeoffagainandthegirltookupherphrase.“Youwereafraidhe’dguessed?Hehas...”

           “Whatdoyoumean—guessedwhat?”

           “Thatyouknowsomethinghedoesn’t...somethingthatmadeyougladtohavemego.”

           “Oh—”Annamoaned.Ifshehadwantedmorepainshehaditnow.“He’stoldyouthis?”shefaltered.

           “Hehasn’ttoldme,becauseIhaven’tseenhim.Ikepthimoff—ImadeMrs.Farlowgetridofhim.Buthe’swrittenmewhathecametosay;andthatwasit.”

           “Oh,poorOwen!”brokefromAnna.Throughalltheintricaciesofhersufferingshefelttheseparatepangofhis.

           “AndIwanttoaskyou,”thegirlcontinued,“toletmeseehim;forofcourse,”sheaddedinthesamestrangevoiceofenergy,“Iwouldn’tunlessyouconsented.”

           “Toseehim?”Annatriedtogathertogetherherstartledthoughts.“Whatusewoulditbe?Whatcouldyoutellhim?”

           “Iwanttotellhimthetruth,”saidSophyViner.

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